Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by wpqx:

5/5 rDev +11.9%look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I honestly didn't think this was going to be as good as it was. Picked up the 2012 version so it has about a year's worth of age on it, poured into a makeshift tulip (my best glassware is not here). So a few thoughts:

A - Even holding this up to the light there is virtually no color, just black, they don't call it Eclipse for nothing, outstanding.

S - Smells like that Elijah Craig 12 year whiskey, you can definitely get the boozy aromas with a bit of the honey, a little coffee as well, just an overall wonderful smell.

T - For a beer that's 9.5% this is very noticeably boozy which might be a turnoff for some but is everything I love about a good barrel-aged imperial stout. Incredibly smooth but with a noticeable bourbon taste to it.

M - This just coats your palette like a good beer should, decent amount of carbonation to for a beer of this kind.

O - I initially balked at the retail price of this beer (as well as the rest of the Eclipse series) but good god this was sooo worth it. This is the first thing I've ever tried from FiftyFifty and they have a new #1 fan. Extraordinary beer.

There I'll stop kissing this beer's ass now, but if you see it, buy it, so good.

Pours into my glass a deep brooding black with a small dark tan head that quickly fades. Bit under carbonated. No light getting through this brew. Aromas start off with smooth dark roasted malts, chocolate and honey. Vanilla and sweet bright bourbon alongside an oak barrel character. Bourbon is really well integrated and draws you in.

First sip brings smooth dark malts, chocolate truffle upfront with honey sweet accents. Bourbon rolls in with caramel and vanilla flavors. Woody oak barrel as it flows down with a touch of spiciness. Smooth and well balanced, the bourbon is perfectly integrated here. Wonderful.

Mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied. A bit slick with mellow carbonation. I enjoy the fact that this is not overly heavy. Overall, this is a great bourbon aged stout with well integrated flavors that all hit the right marks. Really happy to have been able to sample this and looking forward to the 2010 versions.

A - Pours deep brown with half a finger of brown head. Head settles rather quickly, but does leave some lacing behind.

S - Chocolate, quite a bit of vanilla, some dark fruits, some oak, including a small amount of char, and some noticeable alcohol.

T - Chocolate and vanilla lead the way, with some oak notes and roasted malts. Chocolate is semi-sweet. Dark fruits become noticeable midway through, with some char and bitter chocolate on the finish. Subtle bourbon burn, works very well.

M - Medium mouthfeel with a very nice creaminess. Finish becomes more earthy and bitter.

O - This is the first of of the Eclipse beers I have had, and I was impressed. Not too heavy of a mouthfeel, but still a very nice creaminess. Bourbon is prominent but not in your face, and the fruit notes are nice.